Martin Compston to guest star in ITV’s Victoria

Actor Martin Compston will be making a guest appearance in the second series of ITV drama, Victoria.

The Line Of Duty performer will play Dr. Robert Traill, a key campaigner in the petition to gain awareness and support for those suffering from the potato famine in Ireland during the 1840s. French actor Bruno Wolkowitch will also be guest starring in the upcoming series as French King Louis Philippe, who Queen Victoria visits on her first outing to France.

The pair join series leads Jenna Coleman and Tom Hughes who reprise their roles as Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, as well as Dame Diana Rigg who was previously announced to play the Duchess of Bucchleuch, the young Queen’s new Mistress of the Robes, in the upcoming series.

The second series, once again written by creator and executive producer Daisy Goodwin, sees Queen Victoria face the new challenge of motherhood. Picking up six weeks after the first series ended, the second instalment establishes Victoria as a working mother, learning to balance her responsibilities as both parent and Queen. However, with Prince Albert still struggling to find a role for himself, there is an inevitable power struggle between husband and wife.

Further names announced to join the second series include Emerald Fennell, Jo Stone-Fewings, Leo Suter and Michael Maloney.

The eight-part run and two-hour Christmas special has been commissioned by ITV. The first outing of the production was ITV’s highest rating drama of 2016, receiving critical acclaim and a consolidated average of 7.7m viewers with a 29% share. It has been sold in 350 territories worldwide. It has also proved hugely popular in the states, with the first series reaching an average audience of 6.3m viewers and the first episode drawing in a 28% share – more viewers than the first series of Downton Abbey.